Transmitting the 'Heartbeat' Remotely: Demonstrating the 'Sense of Being Together' with Human Augmentation Technology and Namie's Taiko
Key facts
- Transmitting the 'Heartbeat' Remotely: Demonstrating the 'Sense of Being Together' with Human Augmentation Technology and Namie's Taiko
- From December 2025 to March 2026, the Japan Telework Association, NTT East, and NTT Docomo conducted a remote experience demonstration using the tactile sharing technology 'FEEL TECH'. In an experiment experiencing a Japanese drum performance from Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, in Tokyo, adding tactile sensations significantly improved the sense of presence and synchronization, with all participants evaluating an increase in experience value. The technology was confirmed to be effective in solving non-verbal communication issues in telework and creating new connections with local communities.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: May 28, 2026
Direct answer
From December 2025 to March 2026, the Japan Telework Association, NTT East, and NTT Docomo conducted a remote experience demonstration using the tactile sharing technology 'FEEL TECH'. In an experiment experiencing a Japanese drum performance from Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, in Tokyo, adding tactile sensations significantly improved the sense of presence and synchronization, with all participants evaluating an increase in experience value. The technology was confirmed to be effective in solving non-verbal communication issues in telework and creating new connections with local communities.
- Citation
- Transmitting the 'Heartbeat' Remotely: Demonstrating the 'Sense of Being Together' with Human Augmentation Technology and Namie's Taiko (May 28, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- May 28, 2026
From December 2025 to March 2026, the Japan Telework Association, NTT East, and NTT Docomo conducted a remote experience demonstration using the tactile sharing technology 'FEEL TECH'. In an experiment experiencing a Japanese drum performance from Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, in Tokyo, adding tactile sensations significantly improved the sense of presence and synchronization, with all participants evaluating an increase in experience value. The technology was confirmed to be effective in solving non-verbal communication issues in telework and creating new connections with local communities.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 28, 2026 at 14:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 1, 2026 at 02:00 (84h 0m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 07:03 (29h 2m after Collected)
The Japan Telework Association (hereinafter 'the Association'), in collaboration with Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (hereinafter 'NTT East') and NTT DOCOMO, INC. (hereinafter 'Docomo'), conducted a remote experience demonstration utilizing tactile sharing technology. The purpose was to verify the potential of complementing non-verbal communication issues in the telework era and creating new ways of connecting with local communities using remote technology. We have now compiled the results and report them here (Implementation period: December 2025 to March 2026).
The Association views telework not merely as a means of working from home, but as a foundation for designing new ways of connecting with organizations, regions, and society, and this demonstration was conducted as part of that initiative.
In Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, which experienced a town-wide evacuation due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear accident and is currently working on regenerating its local community, we recorded a Japanese drum performance (video, audio, and vibration) by the energetic local performing arts team 'Taiko Namion'. Using Docomo's FEEL TECH® (a technology that converts and shares the sensations of others according to the receiver's body and way of feeling), we shared the sensation of being on-site at a venue in Tokyo and conducted an experience evaluation.
As a result of the evaluation, under the condition where tactile sensation (vibration) was added, scores improved significantly across all evaluation items, such as a sense of presence, synchronization of timing, and emotional elevation, compared to the condition with only video and audio. All valid respondents (100%) evaluated that the addition of tactile sensation improved the experience value.
Through this demonstration, it was confirmed that tactile sharing technology is effective in complementing the non-verbal gap in remote communication, demonstrating its effectiveness as a new communication approach for next-generation telework that supports work styles and connections with local communities beyond location and distance.
[Reference] Implementation Scenes
Top: Performance recording and measurement in Namie (Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, February 28, 2026)
Bottom: Demonstration venue and experience in Tokyo (Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, March 12, 2026)
Background and Challenges
While telework has become established as a daily work style, the challenge has emerged that it is difficult to share non-verbal information such as 'timing, atmosphere, and sense of unity' with only video and audio. Various surveys have reported that this 'non-verbal gap' manifests as feelings of loneliness, alienation, and a decline in a sense of belonging to the organization among teleworkers.
On the other hand, maintaining and fostering a related population is a common challenge faced by regions experiencing continuous population decline. As expanding the base of a related population that 'stays connected even when apart' determines the sustainability of a region, Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, which is still working to rebuild its local community after the experience of a town-wide evacuation due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear accident, is a symbolic region at the forefront of these challenges.
Based on the recognition of these issues, the Association empirically verified whether tactile sharing technology can be utilized to complement the non-verbal gap and the sense of community connection in remote environments.
Demonstration Overview
Implementation Period
December 2025 to March 2026
Demonstration Purpose
To verify whether the sharing of tactile sensation (bodily sensation) creates a 'sense of co-presence' remotely, contributing to complementing non-verbal communication issues in telework and fostering a sense of connection with regions beyond location.
Demonstration Method
Recorded a Japanese drum performance (video, audio, vibration) in Namie Town and experienced it at a Tokyo venue using Docomo's FEEL TECH. Comparatively evaluated the experience under two conditions: with and without tactile sensation.
Recording
Saturday, February 28, 2026, Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, 1st Taiko Namion Solo Performance
Experience and Evaluation
Thursday, March 12, 2026, Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, docomo R&D Open Lab ODAIBA
Experience Participants
17 business persons (in their 20s to 60s)
Implementation Structure
NTT East (Regional Circular Future Research Institute), Docomo, Japan Telework Association
Main Demonstration Results
1. Confirmed that sharing tactile sensation is effective in significantly improving 'sense of presence' and 'synchronization of timing'
Comparing the experience without tactile sensation (video + audio) and with tactile sensation (video + audio + vibration), all valid respondents (100%) evaluated that the addition of tactile sensation improved the experience value. The average score for 'sense of presence (feeling of being on-site)' improved from 2.3 to 4.9, and similar improvements were confirmed in all evaluation items such as 'sharing of timing and synchronization' and 'emotional elevation'.
It was shown that sharing bodily sensations is effective in complementing the 'on-site atmosphere' that cannot be replaced by video and audio.
2. Confirmed that tactile sharing enhances the 'sense of connection' to organizations and regions, and contributes to improving the desire for involvement
73% (11 out of 15) of the participants answered that they 'could have an image of strengthening connections and a sense of belonging with the organization and colleagues,' and 69% (11 out of 16) positively evaluated that 'the sense of co-presence increases and loneliness can be reduced.'
Furthermore, under the condition with tactile sensation, an improvement in the desire to revisit and re-engage with the region was also confirmed, indicating that experiencing local culture through bodily sensations from a distance can serve as a catalyst to encourage continuous involvement with the site.
It has been confirmed that even for those who have difficulty visiting the site due to distance, time, or physical constraints, participating experiences via tactile sensation contribute to maintaining and deepening the sense of connection with organizations and regions.
3. Confirmed effectiveness for advanced utilization in situations where a sense of unity and emotional sharing are important
As effective utilization scenes for this technology, situations requiring emotional sharing and a sense of unity ranked high, such as team building and remote events (8 votes each) and training and development (6 votes).
It was shown that a realistic approach to practical application is to introduce it gradually, focusing on specific situations such as kick-offs and training, rather than as a substitute for daily tasks like regular meetings.
Future Developments
Through this demonstration, it was shown that sharing bodily sensations creates a 'sense of co-presence' remotely and is effective in both complementing non-verbal communication issues in the telework era and creating new ways of connecting with regions.
The Association will continue to connect the results of this demonstration to the design of next-generation telework, and through co-creation in collaboration with member companies, regions, and partners, promote initiatives toward realizing new work styles and ways of engaging with regions that transcend the constraints of location and distance.
Comments
Kazuhiro Yoshizawa, Chairman, Japan Telework Association
(Executive Advisor, NTT DOCOMO, INC.)
Now that telework has become established as a work style option, 'how to deliver the feeling of being with people' beyond video and audio is a new question unique to the telework era. This demonstration, which verified whether the sensation of sharing the same space can be delivered to people in remote locations starting from local culture, showed the potential that tactile sharing technology can fulfill for that question, along with concrete data.
The Association will continue to expand opportunities for co-creation connecting industry and regions, and make every effort toward realizing a society where telework does not create isolation but serves as a foundation supporting rich connections between people and between people and regions.
[Reference] Demonstration Evaluation Data Overview
This evaluation was conducted on a 1 to 5 scale comparing two conditions: with tactile sensation (video + audio + tactile) and without tactile sensation (video + audio). Valid responses: with tactile n=14, without tactile n=11. This data aggregates the evaluations of participants who experienced it as an audience on the day of the demonstration.
Evaluation Item
Without Tactile (Average)
With Tactile (Average)
Difference
Sense of presence (feeling of being on-site)
2.3 points
4.9 points
+2.6
Sharing of timing and synchronization
2.5 points
4.5 points
+2.0
Emotional elevation
2.9 points
4.6 points
+1.7
Recall of sensation
3.2 points
4.4 points
+1.2
Value of remote experience (desire to revisit/re-engage)
3.3 points
4.7 points
+1.4
[Overall Evaluation] All 15 valid respondents (100%) evaluated that the addition of tactile sensation improved the experience value ('Clearly better' 11 people, 'Somewhat better' 4 people, 'Equal or worse' 0 people).
[Sense of connection with organization/region] Participants who answered they could have an image of strengthening connections and a sense of belonging with the organization and colleagues: 73% (11 out of 15). Positively evaluated that the sense of co-presence increases and loneliness can be reduced: 69% (11 out of 16).
[Desire to utilize for work style] 'Definitely want to utilize' 33% (5 people). Most expected utilization scenes (multiple answers allowed, up to 2 items): Team building/remote events (8 votes each), training/development (6 votes).
[Reference] Implementation Structure
Organization
Purpose in Demonstration
Role
Main Responsibilities
NTT East (Regional Circular Future Research Institute)
Verification of a related population formation model that allows continuous participation and involvement in the region even from a distance
Regional Field
Operation of demonstration field, coordination with Namie Town residents, related population analysis
Docomo
Creation of new use cases and verification of effectiveness using FEEL TECH
Technology
Tactile design, device provision, technical verification report
Japan Telework Association
Consideration and design of a next-generation model to complement non-verbal communication issues
Work Style Design and Coordination
Work style model design, knowledge organization, information dissemination, coordination among member companies
[Association Overview]
Corporate Name
Japan Telework Association
Representative
Chairman Kazuhiro Yoshizawa (Executive Advisor, NTT DOCOMO, INC.)
Established
January 1991
Location
1-103 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051
Business
Research and studies, policy proposals, and information dissemination regarding the popularization and promotion of telework and new work styles
URL
https://japan-telework.or.jp/
Press Release Material
d113405-41-edf8af411123696240ee64c53307c06f.pdf
[Inquiries regarding this matter]
Japan Telework Association Secretariat (Furuya, Ozaki)
Inquiry Email: wsi_ml()japan-telework.or.jp (Please replace () with @)
* 'FEEL TECH' is a registered trademark of NTT DOCOMO, INC.
The Association views telework not merely as a means of working from home, but as a foundation for designing new ways of connecting with organizations, regions, and society, and this demonstration was conducted as part of that initiative.
In Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, which experienced a town-wide evacuation due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear accident and is currently working on regenerating its local community, we recorded a Japanese drum performance (video, audio, and vibration) by the energetic local performing arts team 'Taiko Namion'. Using Docomo's FEEL TECH® (a technology that converts and shares the sensations of others according to the receiver's body and way of feeling), we shared the sensation of being on-site at a venue in Tokyo and conducted an experience evaluation.
As a result of the evaluation, under the condition where tactile sensation (vibration) was added, scores improved significantly across all evaluation items, such as a sense of presence, synchronization of timing, and emotional elevation, compared to the condition with only video and audio. All valid respondents (100%) evaluated that the addition of tactile sensation improved the experience value.
Through this demonstration, it was confirmed that tactile sharing technology is effective in complementing the non-verbal gap in remote communication, demonstrating its effectiveness as a new communication approach for next-generation telework that supports work styles and connections with local communities beyond location and distance.
[Reference] Implementation Scenes
Top: Performance recording and measurement in Namie (Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, February 28, 2026)
Bottom: Demonstration venue and experience in Tokyo (Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, March 12, 2026)
Background and Challenges
While telework has become established as a daily work style, the challenge has emerged that it is difficult to share non-verbal information such as 'timing, atmosphere, and sense of unity' with only video and audio. Various surveys have reported that this 'non-verbal gap' manifests as feelings of loneliness, alienation, and a decline in a sense of belonging to the organization among teleworkers.
On the other hand, maintaining and fostering a related population is a common challenge faced by regions experiencing continuous population decline. As expanding the base of a related population that 'stays connected even when apart' determines the sustainability of a region, Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, which is still working to rebuild its local community after the experience of a town-wide evacuation due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear accident, is a symbolic region at the forefront of these challenges.
Based on the recognition of these issues, the Association empirically verified whether tactile sharing technology can be utilized to complement the non-verbal gap and the sense of community connection in remote environments.
Demonstration Overview
Implementation Period
December 2025 to March 2026
Demonstration Purpose
To verify whether the sharing of tactile sensation (bodily sensation) creates a 'sense of co-presence' remotely, contributing to complementing non-verbal communication issues in telework and fostering a sense of connection with regions beyond location.
Demonstration Method
Recorded a Japanese drum performance (video, audio, vibration) in Namie Town and experienced it at a Tokyo venue using Docomo's FEEL TECH. Comparatively evaluated the experience under two conditions: with and without tactile sensation.
Recording
Saturday, February 28, 2026, Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, 1st Taiko Namion Solo Performance
Experience and Evaluation
Thursday, March 12, 2026, Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, docomo R&D Open Lab ODAIBA
Experience Participants
17 business persons (in their 20s to 60s)
Implementation Structure
NTT East (Regional Circular Future Research Institute), Docomo, Japan Telework Association
Main Demonstration Results
1. Confirmed that sharing tactile sensation is effective in significantly improving 'sense of presence' and 'synchronization of timing'
Comparing the experience without tactile sensation (video + audio) and with tactile sensation (video + audio + vibration), all valid respondents (100%) evaluated that the addition of tactile sensation improved the experience value. The average score for 'sense of presence (feeling of being on-site)' improved from 2.3 to 4.9, and similar improvements were confirmed in all evaluation items such as 'sharing of timing and synchronization' and 'emotional elevation'.
It was shown that sharing bodily sensations is effective in complementing the 'on-site atmosphere' that cannot be replaced by video and audio.
2. Confirmed that tactile sharing enhances the 'sense of connection' to organizations and regions, and contributes to improving the desire for involvement
73% (11 out of 15) of the participants answered that they 'could have an image of strengthening connections and a sense of belonging with the organization and colleagues,' and 69% (11 out of 16) positively evaluated that 'the sense of co-presence increases and loneliness can be reduced.'
Furthermore, under the condition with tactile sensation, an improvement in the desire to revisit and re-engage with the region was also confirmed, indicating that experiencing local culture through bodily sensations from a distance can serve as a catalyst to encourage continuous involvement with the site.
It has been confirmed that even for those who have difficulty visiting the site due to distance, time, or physical constraints, participating experiences via tactile sensation contribute to maintaining and deepening the sense of connection with organizations and regions.
3. Confirmed effectiveness for advanced utilization in situations where a sense of unity and emotional sharing are important
As effective utilization scenes for this technology, situations requiring emotional sharing and a sense of unity ranked high, such as team building and remote events (8 votes each) and training and development (6 votes).
It was shown that a realistic approach to practical application is to introduce it gradually, focusing on specific situations such as kick-offs and training, rather than as a substitute for daily tasks like regular meetings.
Future Developments
Through this demonstration, it was shown that sharing bodily sensations creates a 'sense of co-presence' remotely and is effective in both complementing non-verbal communication issues in the telework era and creating new ways of connecting with regions.
The Association will continue to connect the results of this demonstration to the design of next-generation telework, and through co-creation in collaboration with member companies, regions, and partners, promote initiatives toward realizing new work styles and ways of engaging with regions that transcend the constraints of location and distance.
Comments
Kazuhiro Yoshizawa, Chairman, Japan Telework Association
(Executive Advisor, NTT DOCOMO, INC.)
Now that telework has become established as a work style option, 'how to deliver the feeling of being with people' beyond video and audio is a new question unique to the telework era. This demonstration, which verified whether the sensation of sharing the same space can be delivered to people in remote locations starting from local culture, showed the potential that tactile sharing technology can fulfill for that question, along with concrete data.
The Association will continue to expand opportunities for co-creation connecting industry and regions, and make every effort toward realizing a society where telework does not create isolation but serves as a foundation supporting rich connections between people and between people and regions.
[Reference] Demonstration Evaluation Data Overview
This evaluation was conducted on a 1 to 5 scale comparing two conditions: with tactile sensation (video + audio + tactile) and without tactile sensation (video + audio). Valid responses: with tactile n=14, without tactile n=11. This data aggregates the evaluations of participants who experienced it as an audience on the day of the demonstration.
Evaluation Item
Without Tactile (Average)
With Tactile (Average)
Difference
Sense of presence (feeling of being on-site)
2.3 points
4.9 points
+2.6
Sharing of timing and synchronization
2.5 points
4.5 points
+2.0
Emotional elevation
2.9 points
4.6 points
+1.7
Recall of sensation
3.2 points
4.4 points
+1.2
Value of remote experience (desire to revisit/re-engage)
3.3 points
4.7 points
+1.4
[Overall Evaluation] All 15 valid respondents (100%) evaluated that the addition of tactile sensation improved the experience value ('Clearly better' 11 people, 'Somewhat better' 4 people, 'Equal or worse' 0 people).
[Sense of connection with organization/region] Participants who answered they could have an image of strengthening connections and a sense of belonging with the organization and colleagues: 73% (11 out of 15). Positively evaluated that the sense of co-presence increases and loneliness can be reduced: 69% (11 out of 16).
[Desire to utilize for work style] 'Definitely want to utilize' 33% (5 people). Most expected utilization scenes (multiple answers allowed, up to 2 items): Team building/remote events (8 votes each), training/development (6 votes).
[Reference] Implementation Structure
Organization
Purpose in Demonstration
Role
Main Responsibilities
NTT East (Regional Circular Future Research Institute)
Verification of a related population formation model that allows continuous participation and involvement in the region even from a distance
Regional Field
Operation of demonstration field, coordination with Namie Town residents, related population analysis
Docomo
Creation of new use cases and verification of effectiveness using FEEL TECH
Technology
Tactile design, device provision, technical verification report
Japan Telework Association
Consideration and design of a next-generation model to complement non-verbal communication issues
Work Style Design and Coordination
Work style model design, knowledge organization, information dissemination, coordination among member companies
[Association Overview]
Corporate Name
Japan Telework Association
Representative
Chairman Kazuhiro Yoshizawa (Executive Advisor, NTT DOCOMO, INC.)
Established
January 1991
Location
1-103 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051
Business
Research and studies, policy proposals, and information dissemination regarding the popularization and promotion of telework and new work styles
URL
https://japan-telework.or.jp/
Press Release Material
d113405-41-edf8af411123696240ee64c53307c06f.pdf
[Inquiries regarding this matter]
Japan Telework Association Secretariat (Furuya, Ozaki)
Inquiry Email: wsi_ml()japan-telework.or.jp (Please replace () with @)
* 'FEEL TECH' is a registered trademark of NTT DOCOMO, INC.
FAQ
What is FEEL TECH?
It is a tactile sharing technology developed by NTT Docomo that converts and shares the sensations of others according to the receiver's body and way of feeling.
What are the key facts in this article?
From December 2025 to March 2026, the Japan Telework Association, NTT East, and NTT Docomo conducted a remote experience demonstration using the tactile sharing technology 'FEEL TECH'. In an experiment experiencing a Japanese drum performance from Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, in Tokyo, adding tactile sensations significantly improved the sense of presence and synchronization, with all participants evaluating an increase in experience value. The technology was confirmed to be effective in solving non-verbal communication issues in telework and creating new connections with local communities.
What is the direct answer?
From December 2025 to March 2026, the Japan Telework Association, NTT East, and NTT Docomo conducted a remote experience demonstration using the tactile sharing technology 'FEEL TECH'. In an experiment experiencing a Japanese drum performance from Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, in Tokyo, adding tactile sensations significantly improved the sense of presence and synchronization, with all participants evaluating an increase in experience value. The technology was confirmed to be effective in solving non-verbal communication issues in telework and creating new connections with local communities.